Japan expert, writer Donald Richie dies at 88

TOKYO (AP) — Donald Richie, a Tokyo-based expert on Japanese cinema who wrote dozens of books and articles about the country's people and culture, has died at age 88.

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This 2002 photo shows Donald Richie, a Tokyo-based expert on Japanese cinema. Richie, who wrote dozens of books and articles about the country's people and culture, has died at age 88. The Japan Times newspaper, where Richie was a longtime contributor, said he died Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, in Tokyo. It gave no other details. Richie reviewed Japanese films and the arts for the newspaper for more than 50 years. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING IN CHINA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND FRANCE

This 2002 photo shows Donald Richie, a Tokyo-based expert on Japanese cinema. Richie, who wrote dozens of books and articles about the country's people and culture, has died at age 88. The Japan Times newspaper, where Richie was a longtime contributor, said he died Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, in Tokyo. It gave no other details. Richie reviewed Japanese films and the arts for the newspaper for more than 50 years. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING IN CHINA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND FRANCE

The Japan Times newspaper, where Richie was a longtime contributor, said he died Tuesday in Tokyo. It gave no other details. Richie reviewed Japanese films and the arts for the newspaper for more than 50 years.

Richie wrote books on two of Japan's best known filmmakers, Yasujiro Ozu and Akira Kurosawa, as well as general guides to Japanese cinema. He also wrote about his travels in Japan.

Richie, from Lima, Ohio, came to Japan in 1947 during the American occupation. He also served for several years as a film curator at the New York Museum of Modern Art.